Plastic fluid seal structure



Sept. 5, 1939. J. H. vlc'roR Er Al.

PLASTIC FLUID SEAL STRUCTURE Filed March l, 195'? 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1516.6 JOHN H. V/CTO/P ATTORNEY Sept 5 1939 vlcToR Er Al. 2,172,325

PLASTIC FLUID SAL STRUCTURE Filed March l, l1925"! Z'SheetS-Sheet 2 A Tram/5y Patented Sept.v 5, 1939 PATENT OFFICE PLASTIC raum SEAL STRUCTURE- John H. Victor, Wilmette, William A. Heinze, .'Chicago, and Wilburn F. Bernstein, Brookiield,

IIL, assignors to Victor Manufacturing & Gasket Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofl Illinois `Application March 1,- 1937, SerialNo. 128,444

2' Claims. A (Cl. 288-3) This invention relates to 'an vimproved plastic fluid seal structure, and has or one of its principal objects the provision 'of a sealing means for fluids such as oils, greases and the like, which shall be simple of construction, economically produced and superior in operation and lasting qualities. One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a plastic iluidseal structure which is composed of some sutiable material such as rubber, leather and, in the ca'se ofoils, synthetic rubber, and which will be possessed of improved lasting and sealing qualities.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an oil seal or the like, the packing element of which comprises a molded structure of synthetic rubber or a similar material, the same being encased in a metal shell or retainer in a novel self-locking manner.

Another important object of the invention is the provision in anoil seal or grease retainer of a molded packing element and a metallic housing or shell therefor, which shell shall practically entirely encompass the periphery and sides of the plastic sealing element, thereby providing a neat appearing structure and one which is not liable to become damaged in use or handling.

f the invention resides in the production of an oil seal and grease retainer or the like which includes a molded packing element or diaphragm, vand which diaphragm can be manufactured on a -production basis in considerable quantities, while at the same time being available for various sizes of seals to fit housings of different internal diameters.

Another object of the invention is the provision l in an oilseal of a packing structure comprised of a plurality of layers or disks of leather, synthetic rubber or the like, each of the disks having a central opening therethrough', but of varying sizes, all however adapted to accommodate a single shaft in sealing relationship therewith.

An additional object is the provision in an oil or fluid seal of a novel diaphragm in the form of a disk, having a central opening therethrough adapted to encompass the rotating shaft, the opening being bounded by a series of parallel flange elements integral With the packingmember, and which are adapted to closely fit about the rotating shaft in a flexibly contacting manner.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

lment of Figure 3.

in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. .I

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectioanal view of one of the improved iluid seal structures of this invention, 5 showingthe same as removed from a shaft.

Figure2 illustrates a sealing element somewhat the same as that shown in Figure 1, portraying the same as applied to a shaft.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a somewhat difl0 ferent embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the embodi- Flgure 5 illustrates a further modified form of the invention. 15

Figure 6 is a modification somewhat along the lines shownv in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view illustrating that type of sealing element which can be used rather uniformly fordiiferent sizes of sealing structures. 20

Figure 8 is a modined form of the device of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of a further embodiment, showing the device. as removed from a shaft. i

Figure 10 shows the device of Figure 9 on a shaft.' v l Figure 11 is a further modification.

Figure 1211s a plan view of an additional form of'seal. 30 Figure 13 is a sectional ,showing of the device of Figure l2.

Figure 14 illustrates a. double form of sealing structure.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral l i2 indicates generally a packing element, or what might be termed adiaphragm,.which comprises one of the essential features .of the fluid or oil seals of this invention. These packing elements maybe composed of any suitable, material, preferably a synthetic rubber, which is of particular advantage vin the event 'fabric or the like, illustrated at I6 in Figures l and 2. This fabric is molded with the material of the plastic sealing element I2, and forms a practically integralpart thereof, being rather 55 fully impregnated with the synthetic rubber or other material during the molding operation.

It will be noted that the sealing element I2 is lormed with a cut-away slot or the like I8, which provides a thin projecting lip adapted for sealing contact with 'the shaft. andwhich is normally of an internal -diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the shaft for which it is intended. Upon insertiondof the shaft, the lip is distorted somewhat into the position shown in Figure 2, thereby affording a satisfactory sealing contact, while at the same time avoiding any tendency to undue friction or burning. Itdwill be .further noted that a very fine edge or line of contact is thereby provided. which tends to maintain an additional sealing action against the undesired escape of fluids.

The sealing element itself must ordinarily be positioned in some sort of a housing or shell, such a shell being illustrated at 28 in Figure 1 and comprising essentially a cup-shaped metal container having one flat side and ,an`outer periphery, together with an inturned edge as shown at 22, which edge in turn grips and maintains in desired. position a hat washer or the like 24,

, the washer fitting closely against the corresponding face of the packing element I2. In this manner a unitary structure is provided which can be readily and simply pressed into a housing .of

corresponding size so that at the sametime'the inner lip of the sealing element properly contacts the rotatable shaft about which it is fitted.

In Figure 2 a slightly different form of housing is illustrated, this*A comprising a metal shell or the like having a back comprising radial vfingers 26, and a peripheral portion 28 which is of a size 'adapted to be pressed into a corresponding housing, and in this particular case the peripheral portion is extended and turned downwardly and thence, inwardly and again downwardly to provide respectively a face 30, an intu'rned edge 32, and a packing, gripping and positioning rim 3l. A space is provided by this particular constructionwhi'ch may or may not be filled, dependingupon the particular usage to whichthe device is to be put. A substantially leak-proof structure results in either case.

In Figures 3 to 6, inclusive, a slightly different type of sealing element isshown, this of course necessitating a corresponding change in the metal shell or housing.

These packing elements are, as before, preferably composed of synthetic rubber and comprise essentially a lip or sealing portion 36, as is best shown in Figure 3, having the usual fabric facing 88 molded thereto and also provided with an integral body' portion I8, which may or may not be' tion, as illustrated, and which includes an outer face I4 andan inner diaphragm and packing element 48, which is curved as shown, so as to correspond quite closely to the contour`of the diaphragm itself. It has been found that Asuch a reinforcement or retaining element can be securely retained in desired position by first in serting the same in themolded diaphragm element and then fitting the cuter shell 42 thereaivasas around. This places the body material of the diaphragm under compression and effectively prevents, first, any fluid leakage between the parts and, second, the loosening or falling out of the reinforcement 4448. -A garter spring I8 is provided for maintainingv a more positive contact between the lip portion 38 and the shaft 5l.

A modified form of this structure is illustrated in Figure 4, wherein the diaphragm comprises a lip portion 52 and an integral body portion 5I with a containing shell 58, and in this instance a reinforcing structure is provided comprising,

' first, a dat washer 58 fitted against the inner face of the diaphragm, and, second, a cup-element L-shaped in cross section 88-62, the angle being slightly more than that of a right angle and accordingly first, a slight distortion of the body portion 54 when the same is inserted, and also very positively preventing any loosening or coming out of the-internal parts when the outer metal shell 56has been built into position as one of the last operations on the device. f

Another embodiment is shown in Figure 5, ,this being quite similar tothat of Figure 4 with the exception that thebody portion 8l is somewhat larger with respect tothe lip 68 and the outer shell 68 is correspondingly larger, while the inner reinforcing cup 10 is possibly somewhat smaller, but fitted into the structure in about the same manner as the corresponding element of Figure 3. It will be noted, however, that the diaphragm itself is angularly cut away along one face, as

illustrated at 12, which provides for a freer action.

of the lip 8G. s y

This embodiment is substantially duplicated in Figure 6, with the exception that the inner reinforcing structure 14 is of an obtuse angle in cross section, necessitatingjirst, a displacement of the body 86 when same is inserted, and also providinga better sealing relationship between the parts and a preventing of looseness or falling -out when the apparatus has been nally assembled. l

In Figure "I a combination body and lip 18--88 is shown, this being quite similar to the structure in Figure 3, but in this event the same is-adapted for use in an outer shell or container 82, which may be of varying external diameters, the diaphragm, however, being in each case of the same external diameter. Any discrepancy in size is made up by an inner lining or element 84, which can be of any suitable material, such as a molded ring of synthetic rubber or the like, or possibly of asbestos, leather or some other fibrous material.

A washer 88 is provided,'this being held in position by theoverturned edge 88 of the main shell portion 82.

l A somewhat similar structure is indicated in Figure 8, the packing element and filling being indeed the same as shown at 18 and 8l respectively, and an outer shell 82-88 being also duplicates of Figure 7. However, the washer 88 is replaced by two elements, one being a corresponding washer 88 having'a central opening of larger internal diameter, and into this opening and against vthe packing is fitted an L-shaped retainer structure 82, which is quite similar to the structure 44 illustrated in Figure 3. Obviously, other embodiments of this combination retainer and reinforcing structure may be employed, such as those illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive.

In Figures 9 and 10 is illustrated another form of the invention, wherein a plurality of flat washof leather or the like are built intoy a single structure, these washers having central openings and 95, respectively. The same are encased in a shell 96 and held in position by means of the washer 97.

Inl Figure 10 the device is shown as applied to a shaft 9|, and it will be-seen that a different degree of bend is imparted to the corresponding leather or other washer elements.

A further modification of this is illustrated in Figure 11, where the leather or other packing element is made in one piece 9|, and has a piurality of notches or grooves 99 formed in its internal edge, thereby producing a series of rela.- tively thin and quite flexible shaft contacting portions, which will act in a good deal the same manner as the corresponding elements illustrated in Figure 10.

In Figures 12 and 13, the sealing elementl is shown as composed o1' molded synthetic rubber or the like and made in two semi-circular secvtions whereby the same can be tted' around a` shaft which is already in position in a portion of a housing, and after which a complementary half of the sealing element and the housing can be added to the structure. Reinforcing ribs 89 are spaced at desired regular intervalsv about the periphery of the sealing element.

process of installation is eliminated. The .sealing element 85 is of a different type, the same being of synthetic rubber molded into a metallic washer support 8|, and the two ilexible 'dlaphragms or sealing elements are then held in a containing housing or support including intertted metal shells 1i' and 11- and a spacing washer 1l. Ob-

viously, the double construction canvbe varied so far as the diaphragm and also the metallic' lparts are concerned in order to meet various and 1. A plastic uid seal structure, including a main annular body yportion of moldable material and a iiexible lip portion integral with the body portion, said annular body portion beingchannel-shaped in cross-section, thereby defining a distinct line of demarkation between the body and the lip, and a metal housing for the sealing element, said housing comprising a cupshaped shell with an integral inturned rim substantially enclosing the body portion, and an auxiliary shell L-shaped in cross-section, having one leg fastened in the channel portion under compression of the body portion, and a fiat washer in the bottom of the channel acting against said auxiliary shell.

2. A plastic uidseal structure, including an annular body havingv a central opening therethrough, a channel-shaped groove in the body adjacent the opening, said groove thereby dening a relatively thin and flexible lip, the main body portion, excluding the lip, being substantially inthe shape of a right angle .triangle in i cross-section, and a metal housing for the body,

said housing ,contacting same on those sides at right angles to each other, together with a reinforcing element for the body and housing, said reinforcing element iltted into the channelshaped portion of the body under compression.

JOHN H. VICTOR. WILLIAM A. HEINZE. WJLBURN F. BERNSTEIN. 

